Mesa Verde to Santa Fe

We departed Durango in the morning and were an hour from Mesa Verde National Park. It's famous for the Ancestral Pueblo people who made this area their home for 700 years from 600AD  to 1300AD. The most famous attraction here is the cliff dwellings that put on bright display the way these native people lived.

I had a bit of a Looney Tunes moment when I saw a coyote and road runner with minutes of each other

Be warned speeding will get you pulled over, as I got pulled over by the only Park Ranger in the park. I wanted to visit wineries as we headed into New Mexico but unfortunately they were temporarily closed to the public.

About 4 hours away, we stopped in Taos, another Ski resort town that was mostly shut down during the pandemic. We traveled on another 90 minutes into the picturesque city of Santa Fe. We were exhausted from all the driving so we treated ourselves to the Hotel Santa Fe a luxury hotel and spa. Both pool and spa were closed, but another we were given an room upgrade.  I found what little I saw of the town to be a mix of struggling artists and an abundance of wealth.  Plenty of luxury art galleries are between bohemian bars and restaurants. One local spot was the Cowgirl Grill and BBQ offering OK food but delicious and creative drinks. 

Lodging: Hotel Santa Fe - normally with access to its 5-star spa and pool.

Dining: Cowgirl Grill with crowds of people providing vibrant energy to dine or enjoy their creative cocktails. 

Sights: The Loretto Chapel, the Town Square and the Georgia O'Keefe Museum (closed during our visit)